Top 5 Japan only PSP games. When i was making yesterday's list, there were some games that i wanted to include, but felt that it was a bit unfair to include them in that list because there was a strong language and availability barrier to overcome should anyone decide to try and play them. So then i thought, why not make a list of the Japan Only PSP games that I love and wish could be shared with the rest of the world. I have yet to play Final Fantasy: Type-0 or Genso Suikoden: Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki, and many others. Keep in mind i can only rank the games i have played. Only one game per franchise for diversities sake. As always, these are just my opinion. Here are my top 5 Japan only PSP games:

#5) Last Ranker

ラストランカー (rasuto ranka-) is a game that I find quite distressing that it didn't come to other territories. It features some notable talents such as many alumni from the Breath of Fire series and Kazushige Nojima. He is famous for writing scenarios in many of the Final Fantasy games and Kingdom Hearts games. I also thought it was just a nice game overall.

#4) Yakuza: Black Panther

クロヒョウ龍が如く新章 (Kurohyou: Ryu Ga Gotoku: Shinshou) literally translates to "Black Panther: Like a Dragon: New Chapter". Is that name not awesome?! Anyway, it is the first portable spin-off of the very popular in japan but barely making it other territories Yakuza series. If you've never played these games, they are a bit hard to explain. Take the free-roam open world of GTA, mix in extremely visceral combat (to quote Yahtzee over at Zero Punctuation, "pants tighteningly satisfying"), Japanese Culture, and underworld life and you are somewhere in the ballpark of the game boiled down to its essence. I love it! Also due to memory constraints, it uses the artistic hand drawn animations <3 I think i'm just meant to love the rough-inky style used in games like this and the MGS PSP games

#3) Tales of Rebirth

テイルズ オブ リバース (teiruzu obu reba-su) is an easy title translation. Just sound it out (or you know, just look at the english text). This is one game that i actually understand why it didn't make it over seas. The answer: Racism. This game has hardcore racism permeating throughout it. The result is a gripping tale and some really heartfelt lessons. I can just see a buch of people getting in a tizzy about it though and missing the point >.< The gameplay in this particular entry differs a bit from other Tales of series. The battles take place on 3 linear planes. It is essentially just like Guardian Heroes if that helps you. If not, watch the video and probably be left with some level of confusion.

#2) Ape Escape: Saru Saru Big Mission

サルゲッチューサルサル大作戦 (Saru! Get you! SaruSaru Daisakusen) should really be translated as something closer too Ape Escape: Monkey's Big Plan, but whatever. This game feels like the first proper entry in the franchise since Ape Escape 3. It is a bit different from the main entries, but actually "felt" like an Ape Escape game. In this outing, your main characters have been shrunk and now move about in a mind controlling helmet. So you hijack the crazy monkeys minds and then use them to play the game. Each one having different powers like the mermaid monkey, which is actually a monkey that put on a fake mermaid tail, which can swim! It still has limited air cause its just a monkey in a costume XD. Or boxing glove monkey lets you punch other monkeys in the face! I love Ape Escape <3 Why must you torment me by not making more Sony?!?! And you didn't even translate this one >.<

#1) Valkyria Chronicles 3: Unrecorded Chronicles

戦場のヴァルキュリア3: Unrecorded Chronicles. (Senjou no Valkyria 3: Unrecorded Chronicles) literally tranlates to Valkyrie of the Battlefield 3: Unrecorded Chronicles. Which do you prefer: Valkyrie of the Battlefield or Valkyria Chronicles? Either way, this game has one major factor that puts it leagues ahead of Valkyria Chronicles 2. What is that you ask? A more serious, somber tone. The "school" setting of Valkyria Chronicles 2 i felt was a step in the wrong direction. It is fully corrected here with an even more serious tone than the first Valkyria Chronicles. Do all games have to be serious? Certainly not! It just fits this series setting so much better. Regiments caught in a war they didn't want to be a part of. Sounds like a pretty serious topic to me. The gameplay for this series if you are unfamiliar is a mix of real-time 3rd person shooting and turn based strategy. You control an entire battlefield being given so many actions to work with. Then you pick individuals soldiers to control in real time and take out your enemies. It is a little hard to explain without hands on experience. This is the number one PSP game that needs to be localized for markets outside of Japan.

Top 5 PSP games. This little powerhouse had some amazing games for it. Sadly it also has a joystick that i think sucks >.< I had a hell of a time cutting this down to 5. Seriously, it was painful to leave off some games like Valkyria Chronicles II, Dissidia: Final Fantasy, God of War: Ghost of Sparta, and several others =( As always, remember this is my opinion. Here are my top 5 PSP games:

#5) Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Its Metal Gear, but on a handheld! are you ready to have your mind blown?! It's not even my favorite handheld Metal Gear game =P What this game does have is the same great gameplay the series always employs, a nice story, and amazing cutscenes in the style of the "I love her art too much" Ashley Wood. I know she does the concept art for the games, i wonder if she actually drew the cutscenes as well? hmmmm...

Note: Also available on Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and PS Vita

#4) Catlevania: Dracula X Chronicles

The EU boxart just looked so cool i had to use it

Quite the package you get here. a 3D remake of Castelvania: Rondo of Blood, a copy of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and a copy of the original Turbographix-16 Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. Simply superb. I have expressed my love of Symphony of the Night before, and i will again. This game is worth purchasing just for that! As an added bonus you get 2 versions of a solid side-scrolling action game that has multiple paths to get through the game promoting multiple playthroughs. Awesome!

Note: Rondo of Blood is available on Wii's Virtual Console and Symphony of the Night is available on PSX, PSN, and Xbox Live Arcade

#3) Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7

Final Fantasy VII is a game i simply adore that has had many spin-offs of varying degrees of success. Crisis Core is the best of all of them. It looks beautiful, plays kind of funky but once you get a handle on its systems, wonderfully. Also it expands the character of Zack in a meaningful manner. Genesis, not so much....A very enjoyable game and one of the systems finest.

#2) Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection

More Final Fantasy? Really?! Okay fantaffx, we get it. You really like Final Fantasy. Yes i do! and Final Fantasy IV is at the top of the franchise in my eyes. What makes this entry ace is you get an HD sprite edition of the original game, the Japanese cell phone game and wiiware only (if you wanted it in English) sequel The After Years. Sadly, The After Years isn't as good as the original, though i still thoroughly enjoyed it. The topping on the cake that is this package is The Interlude. A new segment that takes place between the two games and can only be found in this collection. The Interlude is definitely the weakest of the 3 games though.........Anyway, this game is amazing and you should play it

Note: Final Fantasy IV is available on SNES, GBA, DS, and many other systems. The After Years is also available on Wiiware

#1) Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep

If there was one reason to own a PSP, this is it. This might be my favorite entry in the entire franchise (and that is saying something, cause i have mad <3's for KH and KH2). The story was deeply touching and really expanded the universe in what i felt was meaningful ways. The play control is great, the worlds are awesome, and some of the characters you meet in the game were quite shocking, at least for me. Child Sora is also one of the cutest things i've ever seen. Just saying =P